# US 11,079,566 B2 · Optical apparatus that is easy to assemble, and prevents occurrence of assembling failure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,566 B2 - Document ID: US11079566B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/274,504 - Filed: 2019-02-13 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yuko Iritani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079566B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/026: {using retaining rings or springs (G02B7/027 takes precedence)} - G02B 7/003: {Alignment of optical elements (G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822)} - G02B 7/10: by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens - G02B 7/102: {controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical apparatus that is easy to assemble and prevents occurrence of an assembling failure. The optical apparatus includes an operation ring part having at least a focus ring and a zoom ring arranged along an optical axis and are rotatable thereabout. Encoders detect rotations of the focus ring and the zoom ring, respectively. A transmission mechanism is moved in accordance with rotation of the zoom ring and transmits rotation of the zoom ring to the encoder therefor. A regulation member regulates a range of rotation of the zoom ring to a predetermined angle range. When assembling the operation ring part, the encoders are inserted from the same direction, and the encoder for the focus ring is disposed in a range excluding an angle range through which the transmission mechanism is moved when the zoom ring is rotated through the predetermined angle range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical apparatus that includes an operation ring part having at least a first operation ring and a second operation ring, which are arranged along a predetermined axis, and are rotatable about the predetermined axis, comprising: a first detection section that detects rotation of the first operation ring; a second detection section that detects rotation of the second operation ring; a transmission mechanism that is moved in accordance with rotation of the second operation ring, and transmits rotation of the second operation ring to the second detection section; and a regulation member that regulates a range of rotation of the second operation ring to a predetermined angle range, wherein when assembling the operation ring part, the first detection section and the second detection section are inserted from the same direction, and the first detection section is disposed in an angle range excluding an angle range through which the transmission mechanism is moved when the second operation ring is rotated through the predetermined angle range, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a first gear which is provided on the second operation ring, and a second gear which is provided on the second detection section, and is meshed with the first gear, and wherein the first detection section is arranged in a range where the first gear does not pass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first gear is formed along an inner peripheral surface of the second operation ring, and wherein the second gear is moved along the inner peripheral surface in accordance with rotation of the second operation ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third detection section that detects rotation of the second operation ring, and wherein the transmission mechanism further includes a third gear that is provided on the third detection section, and is meshed with the first gear, and wherein the third gear and the second gear are moved within different ranges on the inner peripheral surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The optical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first detection section is arranged in a range where the third gear and the second gear do not pass. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The optical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second detection section is an encoder for magnetically or optically detecting rotation of the second operation ring, and wherein the third detection section is a potentiometer for detecting a rotational position of the second operation ring using a resistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical apparatus is an image pickup apparatus including a photographic lens unit, and wherein the first operation ring and the second operation ring are arranged along an outer periphery of the photographic lens unit having an optical axis of the photographic lens unit as the predetermined axis. ### Claim 7 An optical apparatus that includes an operation ring part having at least a first operation ring and a second operation ring, which are arranged along a predetermined axis, and are rotatable about the predetermined axis, comprising: a first detection section that detects rotation of the first operation ring; a second detection section that detects rotation of the second operation ring; a transmission mechanism that is moved in accordance with rotation of the second operation ring, and transmits rotation of the second operation ring to the second detection section; a regulation member that regulates a range of rotation of the second operation ring to a predetermined angle range; and a controller that performs processing corresponding to rotation of the first operation ring and the second operation ring, wherein when assembling the operation ring part, the first detection section and the second detection section are inserted from the same direction, and the first detection section is disposed in an angle range excluding an angle range through which the transmission mechanism is moved when the second operation ring is rotated through the predetermined angle range, and wherein outputs of at least the first detection section and the second detection section are connected to the controller by the same wiring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The optical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the optical apparatus is an image pickup apparatus including a photographic lens unit, and wherein the first operation ring and the second operation ring are arranged along an outer periphery of the photographic lens unit having an optical axis of the photographic lens unit as the predetermined axis.